Watercolor on paper depicting a woman with a basketry tray on her head filled with blue cornmeal, by Awa Tsireh (Cattail Bird) aka Alfonso Roybal circa 1930s. San Ildefonso, New Mexico.
Awa Tsireh: Born February 1, 1898, NM; died May 1955 at San Ildefonso, NM; son of Alfonsita Martinez, potter, and Juan Esteban Roybal; nephew of Crescensio Martinez. By 1917, Alice Corbin Henderson had commissioned the artist to execute paintings for her. Later, Awa Tsireh painted daily with Fred Kabotie and Velino Shije Herrera at the School of American Research. Awa Tsireh painted in three different styles: a simple realism, a combination of symbolism and realism, and a completely non-realistic style.
Provenance: Descended in the family of Ernest Paul Hunt.